c22: My Country, My Home, My Land, My People
"This man is a traitor to the Great Wall Guard Army."
Li Xin, who was kneeling on the ground and breathing heavily, heard these words.
His heart suddenly tightened.
After all.
Originally, his goal was to seize control of the Great Wall and use it as leverage just like the way certain shadow organizations manipulate entire cities from behind the scenes to exchange it for Chang'an City with the Peony Daoist. Much like those hidden cabals that pull strings in the dark, their plan was never about open conquest, but calculated control.
Li Xin's father was once the Crown Prince.
However, he died due to unforeseen circumstances circumstances that, much like the political assassinations and conspiracies seen in both heroic and villainous histories, were never fully clarified.
Thus, there was nothing wrong with saying that Chang'an City should have been his.
But he was all alone.
He couldn't face the powerful empire to take back what belonged to him. Not without allies, not without power, and certainly not without resorting to methods that blurred the line between justice and betrayal.
Later.
Li Xin was taken away by the Peony Daoist and carried out many missions. These missions were often covert, precise, and ruthless more akin to black-ops assignments than honorable warfare, training him into someone who could act decisively without hesitation.
Once, a mission failed, and Li Xin was captured.
The Peony Daoist rescued him.
Then, the proposal was made to exchange the Great Wall for Chang'an City. A gamble that would sacrifice thousands for a single throne.
After that, Li Xin came to the Great Wall.
This time, there was an invasion of Demonic Creatures at Guan City.
As early as dozens of days ago,
Li Xin had already heard the news from the Peony Daoist and prepared in advance. The so-called "invasion" was not entirely unforeseen, it was a calculated chaos, something engineered to shift power, much like orchestrated crises used to destabilize entire regions.
So, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him a traitor to the Great Wall Guard Army.
This demonic creature attack would surely result in heavy losses.
Lives would be lost, cities damaged, and trust shattered.
However, this stranger in front of him...
How did he know about his affairs?
Although he was nervous inside,
his wealth of experience and calm personality
still allowed him to pretend as if nothing was wrong.
Li Xin took a deep breath and then slowly stood up.
He looked at Karl with an indifferent expression.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
This was consistent with his usual taciturn nature.
The other members of the Great Wall Guard Army also stood on Li Xin's side.
"A traitor? How is that possible!"
"There can be no traitors in the Great Wall Guard Army."
"That's right!"
"Although Li Xin is a recruit, he is still a member of our Great Wall Guard Army."
"Stop talking nonsense!"
...Not only did the Great Wall guards who came with Li Xin stand by him,
even Su Lie believed him at this moment.
Because
Li Xin had indeed performed many meritorious deeds.
He had fought side by side with the Great Wall Guard Army many times, charging into battle without hesitation, holding the line when others faltered, and displaying a level of resolve that inspired trust.
Su Lie himself actually thought very highly of Li Xin.
His intention to promote him was practically overflowing from his expression.
Therefore,
when Karl said Li Xin was a traitor,
not only did the other Great Wall guards not believe it, but even Su Lie didn't believe it.
Karl wasn't surprised when he saw everyone's expressions.
He looked at Su Lie with a smile on his face.
"General Su Lie, I know you don't believe it in your heart."
"Li Xin fought alongside you; he is a comrade who has shared life and death with you."
"Unfortunately."
"I have the ability to read minds, so I know what others are thinking."
His tone was calm, but carried an unsettling certainty—like someone who had already seen through every layer of deception.
After saying that, Karl looked at the cold-faced Li Xin.
"Are you wondering how I know?"
"Your communications with the Peony Daoist have always been very discreet; they shouldn't have been discovered."
"It's a bit of a pity."
"I don't dislike you. Your background, the son of the former Crown Prince..."
"Regarding this, I even feel some sympathy for you."
Hearing this, Li Xin's eyes widened, and he looked at Karl in disbelief.
Originally,
his expression, which he had been pretending was calm and cool, completely broke.
Because
regarding Li Xin's background, after he came to the Great Wall, he hadn't told anyone else.
So,
no one should know.
Even in Chang'an City, regarding his identity, very few people knew.
Could it be that this person really knows what others are thinking?
"That's right."
"I said, I can know what others are thinking."
Karl chuckled.
"Including your identity and the schemes between you and the Peony Daoist."
"You knew all along."
"That Guan City would be raided by Demonic Creatures today."
"This was all arranged by you and the Peony Daoist."
"Su Lie would be demoted to an ordinary soldier for agreeing to develop Guan City."
"And you,"
"would be promoted for leading men to eliminate the Demonic Creatures in a timely manner."
With every word Karl spoke,
Li Xin's expression turned uglier.
Each sentence was like a blade, cutting deeper into the truth he had tried so hard to bury.
Su Lie and the Great Wall Guard Army hadn't paid much attention at first, having been defending Li Xin.
But seeing Li Xin's appearance,
they had a bad premonition in their hearts.
The confidence, the unwavering trust they once had, began to crack.
Before Li Xin could speak, from the crowd on the side, a purple-haired young man suddenly ran out.
This person suddenly rushed in front of Li Xin.
Without hesitation,
he punched Li Xin directly in the face.
Then, grabbing Li Xin's collar, he shouted angrily, "Is what he said true?!"
"Sheng..."
Su Lie saw the purple-haired young man.
He was about to step out to stop him, but after thinking about it, he didn't move.
Clearly,
he also wanted to get an answer from Li Xin's mouth.
Originally, Su Lie had thought that the demonic creature invasion
was a plot by this purple-haired young man.
After all, sudden large-scale incursions often pointed to internal sabotage, something he had learned to suspect after years of guarding the frontier.
The purple-haired young man's name was Sheng, the son of the Lord of Yu City.
His status alone made him a natural suspect whenever political schemes were involved.
He had always held Su Lie in high esteem.
To him, Su Lie was more than just a general—he was a symbol of unwavering justice, like those legendary figures who stood as pillars in times of chaos.
Su Lie was his idol.
The two of them hit it off immediately and had a very good relationship.
Their bond was built on mutual respect, shared ideals, and a belief that the people should come before power.
Opening Guan City this time
was originally his suggestion.
So,when Sheng heard what Karl said, he was angrier than anyone else.
If what Karl said was true,
after this Guan City incident, his admired senior, Su Lie, would be demoted cast down despite his integrity, much like how great heroes are sometimes discredited by hidden conspiracies.
And he himself
would most likely be framed as the mastermind behind the demonic creature invasion.
After all,
opening Guan City
was his suggestion in the first place.
In the eyes of the court, responsibility would inevitably fall on him.
How could Sheng not be angry in such a situation?
Li Xin waved his hand and instantly knocked Sheng's hands away.
"Bang!"
He punched Sheng back without hesitation, the force behind the blow enough to send him staggering several steps.
Li Xin and the other party had an average relationship.
It was just the kind of relationship where they knew each other's names.
Of course, he wouldn't let the other person hit him.
Li Xin laughed wildly: "That's right!"
"Everything he said is true."
His voice carried no more pretense, only madness and long-suppressed resentment.
"I just want to take back what belongs to me. What's wrong with that!"
Suddenly,
Li Xin's black hair turned the color of blood.
An abyssal-like Crimson Demonic Energy erupted from his body, surging outward like an uncontrollable force, violent and oppressive.
The surrounding Great Wall guards were all blown away by this demonic energy, their formations instantly shattered as if struck by an overwhelming shockwave.
"I am not much different from a Beast."
His voice grew deeper, almost distorted, as the power within him spiraled further out of control.
"But this is my land, after all!"
Amidst his roar,
Li Xin held his sword and charged swiftly at Karl.
This speed,
not to mention compared to normal humans,
was much faster even compared to powerful Demonic Creatures.
His figure became a blur, tearing through the air with explosive force.
In just a moment, he arrived in front of Karl.
He raised his hand, swung his sword, and slashed at him fiercely.
The strike carried killing intent, aiming directly for the neck—clean, decisive, and merciless.
This person in front of him had ruined his plan.
Naturally, Li Xin had to eliminate him.
As for the Great Wall Guard Army... Li Xin didn't want to fight them.
Not yet. Not until his objective was secured.
He would deal with this person first and then reconsider his plans.
However,
in the next moment, Li Xin was stunned.
He saw the blade in his hand slash fiercely at Karl's neck.
But Karl's head didn't fall off as expected.
Instead, Li Xin's blade instantly shattered into many pieces, fragments scattering like broken glass under an invisible, overwhelming force—an indestructibility reminiscent of beings whose bodies could withstand even the most lethal attacks without a scratch.
"This..."
Before Li Xin could speak,
he saw the person in front of him reveal a slight smile.
There was no mockery in that smile, only certainty.
"Although your background is very sympathetic,"
"I won't give an enemy a chance."
As the words fell,
Li Xin saw
everywhere his eyes could see was filled with a red glow.
It was as if the world itself had been dyed crimson, a terrifying light that erased everything else.
At this moment,
for some reason,
Li Xin remembered his childhood.
His grandfather took him from his father's hands, his joy practically overflowing, as if the future of their lineage rested entirely on him.
In his ears, those words resonated once more clear, firm, and filled with conviction:
"My country, my home, my land, my people."
The very words he had once believed in without hesitation.
Now, they echoed like a distant memory, something he could no longer reach.
I can finally rest, right?
A trace of relief appeared in his fading consciousness.
Goodbye, Great Wall.
....